Via dubai english june 2018 by Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management

Monthly Newsletter issued by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

Emirates is a national pride

Airport Show 2018

Danish delegation 7 discusses with DCAA cooperation in civil aviation DCAA showcases services

The Global Aviation Industry Summit

A true industry showcase IATA developing turbulence database

DCAA INTERVIEW Mohammed Adli Al Nasser

The legal backbone provider

Issue 61 June 2018

Mohammed bin Rashid:

Inside DCAA Workshop for DCAA employees on judicial control

www.viadubaionline.com

Dubai launches tourism blockchain marketplace

UAE News Al Maktoum International offers incentives to airlines

Sharjah Airport to modernise voice communication

26 industry making

Opinion

Aviation

First-ever barometer on airport service quality

progress towards GADSS Etihad unveiled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Year of 27 concept Zayedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initiatives

ATM 36

Airlines 38

Angela Gittens

Cargo & Logistics 40

Technology 41

I am optimistic about the future of this country, and the future of this nation, ancestors built for this generation, and the youth today have to build for future generations.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Message

from the President

A pride for the nation

o be successful and profitable, the airlines face multiple challenges and impediments. Striking the right balance across the various factors affecting operational performance can help them improve profitability. Dubai airport’s traffic has surged from 12 million passengers in 2000, when it was the 30th busiest international airport in the world, to remain, for the fourth consecutive year, the world’s top airport for international passengers with over 88 million in 2017. A key part of this success, since March 1985, has been Emirates Airlines which started with two leased aircraft. Today, it has a fleet of more than 265 aircraft to fly to 140 destinations in over 80 countries on six continents. Over 1500 Emirates planes fly out of Dubai every week. Airline profits are very sporadic, but Emirates has been profitable throughout its history except for just one year. Its amazing growth and resounding success can be attributed to several factors, top being customer satisfaction, passenger loyalty and unflinching service quality. The Emirates Airline and Group recorded 30th consecutive year of profit of AED4.1 billion which was better than the previous year. The solid business growth was in line with capacity increases leading to a record revenue of more than AED100 billion for the first time. Business conditions, though improved, has remained tough. We saw ongoing political instability, currency volatility and devaluations in Africa, rising oil prices which drove our costs up, and downward pressure on margins from relentless competition. We benefitted from a healthy recovery in the global air cargo industry, as well as the

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

relative strengthening of key currencies against the US dollar. While expanding its business and growing revenues, Emirates also tightened its cost discipline. Emirates’ strategy is to operate a young and modern fleet which is better for the environment, better for operations, and better for customers. The airline remains the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 and A380 – both aircraft being amongst the most modern and efficient wide-bodied jets in the sky today. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid congratulated Emirates on its results, tweeting his comment: “Emirates is pride for the nation, behind which there are capable men. It’s a success story to be told to generations to come. Well done.”

June 2018

In 2007, the functions of the Department of Civil Aviation were restructured. Accordingly, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) was established as a regulatory body, by a decree of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on proclamation of law No. 21 of 2007, as amended by law No. 19 of 2010, to undertake development of Air Transport Industry in the Emirate of Dubai and to oversee all aviation-related activities.

CONTENTS

Inside DCAA 06

Workshop for DCAA employees on judicial control

Danish delegation discusses with DCAA cooperation in civil aviation

Via Dubai is the official bilingual monthly newsletter of DCAA, designed to highlight the initiatives and developments in the aviation industry and act as a knowledge-sharing platform for all the stakeholders and aviation professionals.

General Supervision Mohammed Abdulla Ahli Coordinator Hanan Al Mazimi

08 DCAA showcases services

Creative Manager Mohammed Al Jarouf E-mail: viadubai@naddalshiba.com Legal Disclaimer

The views expressed in the articles are of the writers and not necessarily belong to DCAA. We take all reasonable steps to keep the information current and accurate, but errors can occur. The information is therefore provided as is, with no guarantee of accuracy, completeness or timeliness. The DCAA or Via Dubai does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the quality, accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Via Dubai does not endorse or recommend any article, product, service or information mentioned in the newsletter. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional.

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DCAA Interview Mohammed Adli Al Nasser

The legal backbone provider

Editorial, Production, PR & Marketing Nadd AlShiba PR and Event Management

Our Vision

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is driven by the vision of Dubai to become the global Aviation hub contributing to prosperity and enabling growth for Dubai.

Our Mission

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is committed to support the aviation sector in:

E-mail: dcaa@dcaa.gov.ae Website: www.dcaa.gov.ae Tel: (971) 4 216 2009 Fax: (971) 4 224 4502 P.O.BOX 49888 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

u Capturing the full value potential as a global passenger, tourism, trade, cargo and logistic hub u Providing the capacity, connectivity and leveraging existing assets to meet the aviation sector and economic growth plans of Dubai u Ensuring sustainable and responsible growth committed to safety, health, environment and security u Providing and creating customer-focused services to gain competitive advantage from innovation, knowledge and efficiency u Building and retaining capabilities, for the aviation sector, while offering career opportunities for Nationals u Ensuring a transparent, effective and commercially balanced regulatory framework that reflects the interests of the aviation industry, Dubai and the UAE u Providing efficient and cost-effective services to the aviation sector

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Message

from the Director General

Reaching out to the industry

n line with the spirit and vision of Dubai to remain on the cutting-edge of the business and governance, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has remained in the forefront of utilising trade exhibitions to popularise its widening bouquet of services and regulations. The more global a business sector becomes, the more critically important the role of trade shows and exhibitions becomes for it. In the UAE, aviation contributes approximately AED169 billion - equivalent to 15 per cent of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP. Dubai is aiming for 142 million passengers at its two airports by 2025. The aircraft movements in Dubai has increased by 50 per cent in the past eight years. The DCAA has been participating in the Airport Show in Dubai for the past eight years. Like in the previous years, it utilised the B2B event to propagate its services. It was among the organisations which supported the show, along with ICAO, DAEP and Dubai Airports. We actively participated in the three co-located events like GALF and Air Traffic Control Forum. The DCAA is flying high when it comes to implementing Smart Services. The Smart Services bouquet now includes issuances of No Objection Certificates (NoCs) and Permissions for landing, carriage of firearms and dangerous goods, aerial works, aircraft warning light, heliports, pyrotechnic display, building heights, crane operation, GSM or other communication tower and balloon operations and sky trackers/ space cannon.

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

It has reduced the time taken for a number of services it provides to the industry. It now issues NoCs to customers within 15 minutes from three days earlier. Currently, DCAA is offering landing rights in 15 minutes to chartered airlines when they request to land at any of the two airports in Dubai. Our officials met several of 350 exhibitors from 60 countries from Europe, US, Asia and Middle East and the 190 hosted buyers from 34 countries at the show. We could achieve three goals through this single platform: propagating and popularising our policies and programmes, updating and sharing knowledge about the latest in aviation and developing and bettering our rapport with the industry players.

June 2018

Inside DCAA

Workshop for DCAA employees on judicial control

n coordination with the Legal Affairs Office and Human Resources Department, the Aviation Security and Accident Investigation Section of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) organised a training workshop on Judicial Control for DCAA employees . The training focused on how to deal with offences committed in violation of DCAA related legislations in force in Dubai. The training workshop was conducted by Abdulla Al Hamadi, Director of Accident Investigation and Aircraft Oversight Department of DCAA.

The workshop explained the concept of judicial control in accordance with the jurisdiction of valid legislations, and covered a number of issues including the provisions for granting DCAA employees the title of Judicial Officers, the authorities of DCAA Judicial Officers in relation to monitoring and controlling offenses committed in violation of Law 7 of 2015 on the security and safety of the airspace of Dubai and Executive Council Decision 4 of 2017 on imposing some fees and fines. The workshop also explained the

procedures for control of violations by judicial officers and related forms to be used and data to be incorporated in judicial control records. The course included practical applications such as training participants in mock cases of offenses committed by civil aviation professionals, how to deal with such cases and procedures for controlling violations, and the mechanism for preparing judicial control records according to the forms to be adopted by the Authority.

Follow up panel on Light Aero Sports visits DCAA

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) received a team from the Follow up Committee for the Implementation of Light Aero Sports, which is presided by the Ministry of Interior. The members include the DCAA, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, the Emirates

June 2018

Authority for Standardization and Metrology, and the General Civil Aviation Authority. The visit was to review working mechanism and regulations in force pertaining to operational activities and special monitoring system related to remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).

Inside DCAA

Space Journey Danish delegation discusses with DCAA cooperation in civil aviation

.E. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), received in his office a delegation from the Royal Danish Consulate General. The delegation was headed by Morten Siem Lynge, Head of Mission, Consular General, and Middle East Regional Trade Coordinator; and Jonas Bruntse, Commercial Advisor. The meeting discussed Danish investments and means of cooperation in the field of civil aviation, while stressing the importance of enhancing and developing the cooperation to better serve mutual interests. The delegation was told that DCAA welcomes the high level Danish delegation which will visit Dubai shortly to discuss mutual cooperation between the two countries in the field of civil aviation. The meeting comes in the framework of a series of ongoing meetings through which DCAA is keen to foster cooperation and partnership with all local, regional and international entities.

history-defining development took place around the time when the UAE was being formed as a country. In the 1960s, the first humans landed on the Moon as an outcome of the four-year Apollo project by the US - the first and only landings of humans on another celestial body. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan showed his interest in the secrets of space. Egyptian-American space scientist Dr Farouk Al Baz said he had met Shaikh Zayed in June 1974 after the completion of the Apollo lunar exploration mission. He was pleased to know the Apollo astronauts took on the trip with them Al Fatiha verse from the Holy Quran to protect them. In 1976, Sheikh Zayed asked astronauts from the US-Russian Apollo venture about how the Arab deserts look like from the space. The UAE leaders have continued to be interested in identifying the secrets of the universe through space expeditions. DubaiSat-1 was the first fully UAEowned satellite which was launched in 2009. A second DubaiSat blasted off in 2013 and KhalifaSat, the first satellite fully manufactured by Emirati engineers in the UAE, is expected to enter orbit in 2018. KhalifaSat is a remote sensing Earth observation satellite. The UAE is using its oil wealth to finance a homegrown space programme. It plans to launch its first mission to the red planet by 2021, and hopes to settle humans there 99 years from now. The country has so far invested US$5.4 billion in the programme. The top priority is to send a satellite -- the first built entirely by Arab engineers -- into space by the year end. The UAE hopes to become the first Arab state to send a mission to the red planet, by designing, developing, manufacturing and eventually controlling a probe. The spacecraft, Hope Mars Probe, is set to orbit Mars in 2020, and reach the planet by 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.

June 2018

Inside DCAA

DCAA showcases services

he Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) participated in the Airport Show 2018. The participation was aimed at highlighting the role of the Authority in developing the air transport industry and supervising all activities related to civil aviation in the Emirate of Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, visited the DCAA pavilion during his inaugural tour of the exhibition and learned about its outstanding achievements and services. The DCAA’s participation in the exhibition focused on supporting the services of the Authority and its electronic presentation by providing consultation to the clients in the

platform and providing instant services that are completed on the same day and received on the platform for the following services: Issuance of NOCs for the transport of hazardous materials shipments, provided by the Hazardous Materials Section of the Aviation Security and Hazardous Materials Department of the Aviation Security Sector and Accident Investigation; and The issuance of NOCs for commercial activities, provided by the Air Commercial and Consumer Protection Section of the Air Transport Division of the Air Transport and International Affairs Sector. During the exhibition, visitors were able to meet with a number of officials and employees of the Authority in order to understand the services provided by the Authority for the development of the aviation sector.

Tamkeen products exhibition I

n coordination with Al Sharjah for Social Empowerment Foundation, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) hosted the “Tamkeen (Empowerment) Product Exhibition”. The revenue from the exhibition is donated to orphans affiliated to the Foundation. The exhibition showcased a number of creative products, including sewing, design and exquisite handicrafts, developed by the participating orphans. The show had huge turnout of top

June 2018

DCAA officials and employees, who expressed their admiration for the Foundation’s projects and the Tamkeen products. “The participation of the Authority comes to further consolidate the

culture of volunteerism, in addition to providing opportunities and partnerships for benevolence and encouraging everyone who wants to make a positive difference in our beloved country,” said a statement.

Inside DCAA

Singapore delegation visits DCAA

E Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), received in his office a delegation from the Republic of Singapore headed by Mr Low Pit Chen, Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore in Dubai, and Mr Kevin Shum, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. During the meeting, the two sides discussed

the relations of joint cooperation and the importance of strengthening and developing these relations to serve common interests. The meeting is part

of a series of ongoing meetings through which the Authority is keen to strengthen cooperation and partnership with all local, regional and international bodies.

The Global Aviation Industry Summit

r Hafidh Masoud, Head of Aerodrome Safety Section – Aviation Safety and Environment Section of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), participated as a keynote speaker in the Global Aviation Industry Summit. Mr Massoud has also met the space scientist Dr Farouk El Baz, Director, Center for Remote Sensing and Research Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, and a number of prominent industry figures and specialists.

Hag Al Laila activities

CAA arranged Hag Al Laila activities in the presence of some of the Executive Directors, Department Directors, Section Heads, and a DCAA’s employees. Mr. Abdulrahim Al Mulla, Executive Director Corporate Support and Communication Sector, and on behalf of Director General, welcomed the attendees at the event.

There were various activities including traditional breakfast, Hag Al Laila gifts, traditional songs, and Hag Al Laila charity grocery. Employees of Air Transport & International Affairs Sector also participated by distributing Hag Al Laila gifts around DCAA ‘s offices. The event was organized as part of DCAA’s happiness initiatives that aim to spread positivity amongst the employees.

June 2018

DCAA Interview

Mohammed Adli Al Nasser, Legal Advisor, Legal Affairs Office, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

The legal backbone provider

he Legal Affairs Office of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) plays a crucial role in contributing to the formulation of the general civil aviation policy in Dubai, in line with the legislation in force in the country and with a view to fulfilling DCAA’s vision and mission through the provision of legal support to the Director General and all the organisational units of the Authority. In a special interview with Via Dubai, Mohammed Adli Al Nasser, Legal Advisor, Legal Affairs Office, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), shared the achievements of the Legal Office and its future plans to develop the Authority’s business delivery and its legal advice domain. Excerpts from the interview:

Would you please give us an overview of the role of Legal Affairs Office, its objectives and tasks?

The Legal Affairs Office is one of the Authority’s organisational units. It was established by virtue of Executive Council Resolution No. 20 of 2016, which was later amended by Resolution No. 10 of 2018, with regard to adopting the new organisational chart of DCAA. The Office reports to the Director General and aims to contribute to the formulation of the general policy of civil aviation in Dubai, in line with the legislation in force in the country and with a view to fulfilling DCAA’s vision and mission through the provision of legal support to the Director General and all the organisational units of the Authority.

June 2018

The mandate of the Office includes a number of tasks like the provision of legal advice in relation to legal issues forwarded by the Director General or any of the organisational units of DCAA. It also provides legal advice sought by the government or any government entity in relation to any legal issue related to the business delivery of the Authority. The Office also provides advisory technical support to matters forwarded by the Director General or any of the organisational units of the Authority.

What are the legislative tasks?

The Office is mandated with legislative tasks such as recommendation, preparation and formulation of draft legislations related to the functions and specialisations of the Authority; examination and review of draft legislations forwarded to the Authority by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee in Dubai; preparation of studies and researches on issued legislations and providing comments on these legislations in coordination

with the organisational unit(s) in question; and the preparation and legal drafting review of administrative decisions issued by the Authority; and other related tasks pertaining to contracts, disputes, law suits in coordination with Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department and strategic functions.

What are the achievements of the Office?

During the past couple of years, the Legal Office has recorded a number of prominent achievements. It has coordinated with the General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee to issue Law No. 7 of 2015 on the Safety and Security of the Airspace of the Emirate of Dubai; a law that copes in form and content with the Federal Civil Aviation Law and forms the basis for Executive Council Resolution No. 4 of 2017, which approves the fees and fines of DCAA. The Legal Office is currently involved in the preparation of the executive regulations of Law No. 7 of 2015 in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee of the Government of Dubai.

DCAA Interview

In cooperation with other organisational units of the Authority, the Legal Office, in coordination with the competent authorities, passed the Executive Council Resolution No. 4 of 2017, which defines the fees to be charged in return for the services provided by the Authority and fines to be charged for violations committed in order to ensure public and personal deterrence, knowing that this resolution defines a list of violations including 38 items. In implementing this resolution through DCAA’s judicial officers and other DCAA’s staff, the Office has reviewed best legal practices applied locally, and is currently in the process of reviewing best regional and international practices. The Office has benefitted from the experience of Dubai Municipality and Dubai Economy in the areas of the functions and procedures of Judicial Officers, as we have benchmarked the two entities to learn best practices in this field. We have also made other benchmarking in relation to legislations and service delivery of legal units, and these involved Dubai Airports and RTA.

What enabled the Office to accomplish these achievements?

As for the achievements made since the beginning of this year, the Legal Affairs Office dealt with 106 requests for legal support from various organisational units within the Authority, including requests forwarded by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai, requesting our

We aim to reach excellence in providing legal support to the various organisational units of the Authority opinion on a number of local and federal draft legislations; and requests forwarded by Dubai Courts in relation to some law suits, verdicts of which involve issues related to the Authority’s business. The Office has also played a key role in providing support to the organisational units concerned with the rehabilitation and legal training of Judicial Officers from among the employees of the Authority, in accordance with the legislations in force in the Emirate of Dubai, where we have provided legal support for the internal training workshop held by the Aviation Security and Accident Investigation Department, and delivered by Mr Abdullah Al Hamadi, Director of Accident Investigation and Aircraft Oversight Department, in which a number of employees of the Authority were trained on judicial control, the authorities of the judicial officers and the procedures governing their work in the Authority.

What is your long-term strategy?

We aim to reach excellence in providing legal support to the various organisational units of the Authority, and to effectively contribute to building an integrated legislative system in the framework of civil aviation,

in accordance with federal legislations and international agreements governing the civil aviation sector, and with the aim to enhance the civil aviation friendly business environment, taking into consideration the vital importance of this sector to the economy of Dubai, and with a view to achieving the vision and mission of the Authority towards making Dubai the world’s airport. Through our service rendering, we seek to provide support to the trends set by H.E. the Director General with the aim to foster cooperation between the Authority and all government entities with a view to developing a developmental model for the aviation sector in the Emirate; one that ensures us the ability to meet the challenges and create innovative opportunities, all within a clear, effective and balanced regulatory framework that takes into account the commercial aspects of the civil aviation sector, and enhances the level of happiness and confidence of the Emirate’s community.

June 2018

Cover Story

Mohammed bin Rashid:

Emirates is a national pride

is Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised the financial results of Emirates Group which continued to fly its profits for the 30th consecutive year.

His Highness said: “As the UAE celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we recall together the vision of Sheikh Zayed which the state began more than four decades ago. Although we are part of a rapidly changing world, Zayed’s thinking -- with all the values o f respect, sustainability and investment in man - remains the light that guides our quest for the future and the compass that Dubai uses to establish itself as the world’s most advanced city.

Reap the rewards

“Today, based on Zayed’s legacy, we are delighted to reap the benefits of development efforts to achieve the highest level of excellence year after year. In the Ease of Doing Business report recently released by the World Bank, the UAE was ranked 21st in

June 2018

“Emirates is pride for the nation, behind which there are capable men. It’s a success story to be told to generations to come. Well done.”

the world for the fifth consecutive year, to reflect the continuous progress in the competitiveness of the UAE, the success of the strategy of economic diversification pursued by years the economic diversification strategy it has been pursuing for years.” His Highness said Dubai’s move from a small commercial port to a regional hub for business, tourism, transport, trade and other sectors is a source of pride and success. It was achieved with the strategic location in the heart of the world, the adoption of economic policies based on the principle of free economy and fair competition, investment in an infrastructure that is the best of the world, and the establishment of an open society that places the happiness and well-being of all its members and their welfare.

“Our ambitions do not stop at the limits of our achievements, but we extend them to a wider range, which we look forward to making Dubai a global centre for innovation and development with an integrated approach outlined by the Dubai 2021 Plan and Dubai’s business strategies, while Dubai 2020 will be a new arena building bridges connecting the world with thought and creativity to transcend the geographical borders between their peoples, and to strengthen our transition to the future with the capabilities to help us to ensure the opportunities, the most important of which is the knowledge economy. When we put people’s comfort and happiness at the forefront of our concerns, and make growth sustainable a major strategic goal, we are laying the groundwork for greater development opportunities.

Cover Story

Emirates Results

A Profitable Progress F

or the 30th straight year, Emirates Airlines and Group cruised ahead with profits despite facing financial challenges and operational risks. The world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft remains on the cutting-edge of the business

Airlines are enjoying a period of record profits, with 2017 setting the fourth highest year of profits on record, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). A key part of Dubai’s aviation success, since March 1985, has been Emirates Airlines which started with two leased aircraft. Today, it has a fleet of more than 265 aircraft which flew over 50 million passengers last year to 140 destinations in more than 80 countries on six continents. Interestingly, more than 1500 Emirates planes fly out of Dubai every week. Emirates’ amazing growth and resounding success can be attributed to several factors, top being customer satisfaction, passenger loyalty and unflinching service quality. Emirates has been profitable throughout its history except for just one year. The Middle East carriers face challenges to their

business models, regional conflict, crowded air space and the impact of travel restrictions to the US.

owns the EK along with flydubai, Dubai’s equally profitable budget carrier.

The financial year 2017-2018 was not free of challenges and opportunities for the Group which includes the Emirates Airlines which, with over 265 aircraft, is the world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. For the 30th consecutive year, the airline reported profit – this financial year it was AED4.1 billion, up 67 per cent from previous year.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Business conditions, while improved, remained tough. We saw ongoing political instability, currency volatility and devaluations in Africa, rising oil prices which drove our costs up, and downward pressure on margins from relentless competition. We benefitted from a healthy recovery in the global air cargo industry, as well as the relative strengthening of key currencies against the US dollar.”

The airline also spelled out its steady business expansion. The Group’s revenue reached AED102.4 billion, an increase of eight per cent over last year’s results, and the Group’s cash balance increased by 33 per cent to AED25.4 billion. In line with the overall profit, the Group declared a dividend of AED2.0 billion to the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), which

In 2017-18, the Group collectively invested AED9.0 billion in new aircraft and equipment, the acquisition of companies, modern facilities, the latest technologies, and staff initiatives. Emirates

June 2018

Cover Story

announced two significant commitments for new aircraft during the year: a US$15.1 billion agreement for 40 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners which will be delivered from 2022, and a US$16 billion agreement for 36 additional A380 aircraft, including 16 options. Across its more than 80 subsidiaries, the Group’s total workforce declined by two per cent to 103,363, representing over 160 different nationalities, as part of the overall productivity improvement initiatives in Emirates and dnata, air service provider. About the Emirates performance, it was disclosed that its total passenger and cargo capacity crossed the 61 billion mark, to 61.4 billion ATKMs at the end of 2017-18, cementing its position as the world’s largest international carrier. Emirates received 17 new

June 2018

aircraft, after last year’s record number during a financial year, comprising eight A380s and nine Boeing 777-300ERs. At the same time, eight older aircraft were phased out, bringing its total fleet count to 268. This fleet roll-over involving 25 aircraft was again one of the largest managed in a year, keeping Emirates’ average fleet age at a youthful 5.7 years. The airline remains the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 and A380 – both aircraft being amongst the most modern and efficient widebodied jets in the sky today. During the year, Emirates launched two new passenger destinations: Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Zagreb (Croatia). It also added flight capacity to 15 existing destinations, offering customers more choice of flight timings and onward connections. Emirates also grew its global connectivity

and customer proposition through strategic partnerships. Emirates also received authorisation to extend its partnership with Qantas until 2023. In spite of political challenges impacting traveller demand and fare adjustments due to a highly competitive business environment, Emirates managed to increase its revenue to AED92.3 billion. The decline of the US dollar against currencies in most of Emirates’ key markets for the first time in a number of years had an AED661 million positive impact to the airline’s bottom line. The airline successfully managed strong competitive pressure across all markets and increased its profit to AED2.8 billion, an increase of 124 per cent over last year’s results, and a profit margin of 3.0 per cent. Emirates carried a record

Cover Story

58.5 million passengers (up four per cent), and achieved a Passenger Seat Factor of 77.5 per cent. Emirates closed the financial year with a healthy and increased level of AED20.4 billion of cash assets.

Revenue generated from across Emirates’ six regions continues to be well balanced, with no region contributing more than 30 per cent of overall revenues. Europe was the highest revenue contributing region with AED26.7 billion, up 12 per cent from 2016-17. Gulf and Middle East revenue decreased by two per cent to AED8.5 billion. For 2018-19, Emirates has announced new routes to London Stansted in the UK, Santiago in Chile, Edinburgh in Scotland, and an additional flight between Dubai and

Auckland via Bali, aside from capacity upgrades to existing destinations. Emirates SkyCargo recorded a strong performance in a resurgent market, and continues to play an integral role in the company’s expanding operations, contributing 14 per cent of the airline’s total transport revenue. Emirates’ cargo division reported a revenue of AED12.4 billion, an impressive increase of 17 per cent over last year, while tonnage carried slightly increased by two per cent to reach 2.6 million tonnes.

June 2018

2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

Airport Show 2018

A true industry showcase D

ubai has once again proved that the emirate could host world class events. The world’s largest annual aviation event was a true industry showcase that hosted over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries along with over 7,500 visitors. Deals worth millions were signed and strategic collaborations announced.

The 18th edition of Airport Show on May 7, 8 and 9 was a remarkable success with participants clinching substantial deals worth millions and announcing strategic collaborations. Since the inauguration of the world’s largest annual aviation event by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the annual B2B airport industry event saw the highest number of exhibitors, hosted buyers and participants. The largest annual event of its kind

June 2018

hosted over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries, with the largest number of dedicated pavilions ever, representing Europe, the US and Asia, along with over 7,500 visitors. The event also saw its largest number of buyers ever, with 190 buyers attending from 34 countries, representing 75 airports, ground handling, police, immigration, customs, air traffic control and aviation authorities. Opening the show, His Highness said: “The show is being conducted at a time when the aviation industry has emerged as a major contributor to the economic growth and job creation. The contribution of the aviation sector to Dubai’s GDP has

been growing steadily and is expected to reach 38 per cent, thus aiding overall growth. “The Middle East aviation industry is witnessing an exciting time with the region recording the second highest passenger traffic growth rate and continuing with its multi-billion-dollar airport expansion and modernisation programmes. Whether it is the latest scanning technologies, passenger experiences or robot baggage handlers the region’s airports are investing in the latest of technology and concepts and stay ahead of competition. This exciting time in the industry is reflected at the Show.”

2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

His Excellency Mohammed Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), said: “The quality of global participation and the increased number of exhibitors are testimony to Dubai’s growing importance as a global hub for civil aviation industry.” The show is viewed in the backdrop of strong growth in the aviation industry. The Middle East will grow strongly (4.8 per cent) and will see an extra 244 million passengers a year on routes to, from and within the region by 2035. The UAE will enjoy strong growth of 5.9 per cent, with the total market size touching 414 million passengers. By 2020, Dubai International is estimated to receive 126.5 million passengers, almost 30 per cent higher than its original assessments a decade ago. The global appeal of the show was expanded by adding exclusive add-on forums like Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF), Women in Aviation (WIA), Air Traffic Control (ATC) Forum and Airport Security Middle East – the last two being this year’s new additions. Farid Al Bastaki, Director, ENOC Aviation, said: “Initiatives like the ‘Women in Aviation General Assembly’ are great platforms to highlight the achievement of women in society. Investing in women is one of ENOC’s top priorities which fall in line with supporting the UAE’s vision to empower them in the workplace. Aviation is a key driver of a nation’s socio-economic growth and we encourage all stakeholders in this sector to support women and engage with them. Aviation is a dynamic sector that requires qualified professionals and women need to be encouraged to take up jobs

Ahmed Bin Thani

Mohammed Abdulla Ahli

within this industry that underpins economic growth.”

Navitas that helps enhance the safety and efficiency of airside operations.

Meanwhile, the Aviation Security Center (Avsec) of Dubai Police will host the 16th Directors’ Meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Dubai in 2019 during the 19th edition of the Airport Show in 2019, said Eng Marwan Mohammad Singel, Director, Dubai Civil Aviation Security Center, Dubai Police.

Sharjah International Airport has awarded Frequentis and its UAE partner Bayanat Engineering UAE a contract to modernize its voice communication infrastructure and replace the existing Schmid Telecom system.

The mandate was given to Dubai at the 15th Directors’ Meeting in Hong Kong, which was attended by Eng Marwan Mohammad Singel. “In fact three countries were in the fray to host this prestigious meeting, but when Dubai showed its interest, they withdrew in our favour. The meeting will facilitate showcasing of the latest in airport and aviation security,” he said.

Major deals

Major deals during the show include Dammam Airports Company (DACO) signing strategic agreements with Vanderlande and Serco Middle East. Honeywell, a global leader in connected airports, launched a new smart software suite Honeywell

Mr Sameh Gaafar, Director, Airport Security, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Rockwell Collins, said the company is in discussion with Jazeerah Airways for their new requirement for a dedicated terminal. “Our participation at the show was very rewarding as we could get good enquiries from key players in the market,” he said. Mr Todd Donovan, Vice President Strategy, Air Traffic Management, Land & Air System, Thales Group, said: “The show has been great, it’s a great forum being able to join together as key stakeholders in the region in order to very efficiently have many meetings with our current customers and prospective customers and be able to discuss what is materialising and happening in the industry today.”

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2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

Mr Tom Squier, Managing Director of Smiths Detection ME, said: “This has been an excellent exhibition. I have been in this industry for 11 years but this is my first Airport Show here in Dubai. It is an impressive show. Lots of companies invested heavily in it. Representation from the region is good.” For the first time this year, the event saw the launch of the Innovation Awards, with winners selected from a global pool of submissions and industry jury. Mr Dieter Heinz, President, German Airport Technology & Equipment, won the ‘Aviation Personality’ award for his contribution towards the development of the industry globally; the ‘Revolutionary’ award went to Beumer, for a groundbreaking product and service that transformed the industry; Hungaro Control got the Sustainability award, Materna received the award in ‘Smart’ category and Avventura was presented the ‘Customer service’ award. Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East which organises the trend-

setting trade show, said: “This year felt like a true industry showcase. The dedicated events for security and air traffic control complemented Airport Show perfectly and we are looking forward to offering further content aligned with industry trends in 2019.” GALF, organised by CAPA, attracted wider industry participation. The ATC Forum was heard orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.

Airport Security Middle East Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-D), said that by 2030, the smart gates at Dubai airports will replace passport officials’ platforms with a view to reducing the human involvement factor in application of Dubai’s 10X initiative.

Delivering the welcome address at the Airport Security Middle East conference on the second day of the 18th edition of Airports Show, Al Marri said: “We have created smart gates projects in an exclusive and modern way, and these amount now

Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri to about 122 smart gates. We have created a number of smart projects in Dubai international airports, the latest of which is “Next-Generation Departure” project, which will enable passengers complete their travel procedures in the least time possible.” Delivering the opening keynote address, Col. Hamooda Belsuwaida Alameri, Assistant Director General Operations at General Department of Airport Security, Dubai Police said: “Dubai police has plans to coordinate its human resources and capabilities to ensure security at airports. The airport security challenges are land side security, cyber security and security check points. Airports, the police and the security agencies need to collaborate and exchange information as well as to do risk assessments to ensure security on all fronts.”

ATC Forum

In his keynote address at the ATC Forum, Abdulla Al Hashmi, Executive Vice President for Operations at Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), said over the past eight years, aircraft movements have increased by 50 per cent which has necessitated upgrading of the airspace.

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2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

“Aair traffic control is a cornerstone of the aviation sector and Dubai has implemented the most advanced procedure to-date, keeping the safety of passengers and their timely travel as their ultimate priority and goal. Dans has significantly transformed and developed its operations to cater to the ever-growing aviation sector. “Operating closely with larger-thanlife corporations such as Dubai Airports and Emirates airline and that has enabled us to become the leading air navigation services provider of the MENA region that we are today,” Al Hashmi said.

and it will help diversify the airports’ income streams significantly with the implementation of new technologies, industry specialists said at GALF.

GALF

The conference was addressed by more than 20 industry experts. Jameela bint Salem Al Muhairi said, “Young Emirati girls and boys have strong potential and I want to see more Emirati students applying for the jobs of pilots and engineers and learn about aerospace and aviation.”

Participating in a panel discussion “Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM)” at the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) , Director General & Board Member of emaratech Thani Al Zaffin, said immigration counter process has been reduced to six seconds compared to 40 seconds before and it is achieved through data intelligence as 90 per cent of the passengers at Dubai International are pre-cleared. “Our goal is to make the customer happy with the enjoyable experience.” He also talked about the smart trolleys. “We have invested on intelligent trolleys. You can start shopping with smart trolley and it will guide you everything and all the way to the boarding gate. This is what we have done.” Smart airports will improve passengers’ experience

Women in aviation

UAE women will continue to be the future capital and long-term contributor to the success of the UAE, said Her Excellency Jameela bint Salem Al Muhairi, the first woman Minister of State for Public Education in her keynote address at the 3rd Women in Aviation General Assembly on the side lines of the 18th edition of the Airport Show.

Compared with other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the UAE has more women pilots, captains, aircraft engineers, mechanics, aircraft maintenance and air traffic controllers, among others. Emirates currently employs nearly 27,000 women, making up 42 per cent of the group’s workforce, including women pilots who include the youngest Emirati female pilot operating the world’s biggest aircraft A380. Over 60 of more than 4,000 pilots employed by Emirates are females.

Thani Al Zaffin Sonja Strand, vice president & general manager for Honeywell’s Global Airports Business, Gold Sponsors of the Women in Aviation (WIA) General Assembly, said: “As a global leader in aviation and airport solutions, Honeywell believes diversity and inclusion within its teams is crucial to generating superior ideas that can better serve customers and drive growth.” “As an engineer and business leader in the traditionally male-dominated aviation industry, I believe we now have an outstanding opportunity to inspire the next generation of female engineering talent seeking careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, and it is one that the industry as a whole must capitalize on,” Strand said. Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), Dubai Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and dnata were the Key Supporters for Airport Show, while Dubai Police and Dubai Customs were supporting Airport Security Middle East and ATC Forum was supported by Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) and GAL ANS, in addition to the four Key Supporters.

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2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

Interview Mr. Georges Hannouche, CEO, Bayanat Engineering and Mr Norbert Haslacher, CEO, Frequentis

Safety-critical technology and the challenges B

ayanat Engineering, a technology company focussed on airports, has contributed immensely to the growth of UAE aviation industry. Through close relationships with authorities in the region, as well as coordination with global technology leaders, including safety-critical technology company Frequentis, Bayanat has been able to contribute to enhanced efficiency, speed and safety to passengers, and aircraft turnaround time.

Mr. Georges Hannouche, CEO, Bayanat Engineering, and Mr Norbert Haslacher, CEO, Frequentis, spoke to Via Dubai during the Airport Show 2018 about the importance of safety-critical technology for the aviation industry and the challenges and opportunities it faces.

Q: Bayanat is closely associated with the growth of the UAE’s aviation industry. How was the journey so far?

Georges: Bayanat is a company focussed on airports and probably unique in its kind, not only in the Middle East but also worldwide. In October this year, we will celebrate 35 years of our group’s existence. The company was established in 1983, in Abu Dhabi, as the first data communication company in the Middle East. It then became a networking company and the aviation division started in 1998 and subsequently became an independent company in 2008 as Bayanat Airports. Our airport activities span 20 years. We integrate all systems, the terminal, the runway and the tower. Since starting in the UAE we have expanded to other parts of the region with the last expansion in Morocco. We have further plans to expand elsewhere. We work with technology providers and top-level companies internationally, among them our most important partner is Frequentis.

June 2018

Q: Why did Frequentis choose Bayanat as a partner?

Norbert: Our relationship with Bayanat is a very long lasting one which is built on trust. We are both built from safety-critical DNA, meaning we understand the safetycritical environment of our customers and can support them in achieving their business goals. Frequentis has been active in this field for over 70 years and has clients in almost 140 countries. Our work is supported by 50 subsidiaries all over the world, starting with our head offices in Vienna, Austria, and many other bases in Europe, to the US, Canada, South America, Australia and Singapore. The largest safety-critical sector we work in is Air Traffic Management (ATM), for both civil and defence. We also work in public safety, public transport and maritime domains, concentrating mainly on safety critical control rooms. That’s our mission.

Q: Would Frequentis expand operations in the UAE?

Norbert: We are opening a legal entity in Abu Dhabi in June, 2018. The office will provide the region with a permanent sales and support service, further expanding the Frequentis global network and enabling continued growth. The new office will also develop Science, Technology, Engineering

& Mathematics (STEM) capabilities into the Middle East. The STEM offering comes through Frequentis’ experience and close cooperation with universities and government organisations in Europe, enabling knowledge transfer and local connections.

Q: Safety is critical for everybody. What are the challenges to make airports safe and secure? Georges: When you talk about safety networks it is essentially in the terminal because that is where people check in. There are now lot of new technologies that can identify people, monitor people’s movements and also monitor the people who are checking in.

We have implemented such systems in the terminal in Abu Dhabi, Terminal 3 and we are proud to say that our company has designed the special terminal for direct flights to the US. The unusual thing about this project is that it is under UAE sovereignty during the day time and in the evening it becomes the US sovereignty because it is taken over by the US Customs and Border. We have completed it as design-built and have maintained it for the past three years. The system in Abu Dhabi is more advanced one. All the security systems are designed by both the UAE authorities and the US

2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

In the Middle East, there is absolutely no coordination or cooperation among the countries. There is segregation between military and civil. These issues need to be addressed for the growth of the aviation industry. There are now interesting technologies that immediately feel the number via a communication centre so that airports can put human resources wherever the floor is bigger. There are technologies available to manage floors at terminals.

Norbet Haslacher

Georges Hannouche

authorities. We are expecting other airports in the region to adopt this technology.

with a further demonstration system set up in New Zealand. This technology will now be exported worldwide with a joint venture together with German ANSP, Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS). Together with Bayanat as our partner for installation and maintenance it will also be possible to bring this solution to the Middle East.

Q: What is unique about Frequentisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remote tower technology?

Norbert: Our commitment to research in remote towers can be seen in our participation in the SESAR2020 mutlitower testing and our participation in working groups such as EUROCAE, which works on a harmonised standard for voice communication. There is further work being conducted in the SESAR programme to improve visual surveillance for remote tower and adding alternative surveillance solutions to the offering. Safety is our priority. Our remote tower solution is also perfect for military use, providing a secure air traffic control for air bases from a safe, remote location away from danger. This is a new technology that will increase the security level of a military operator, as well as allow them to operate three airports/airfields in parallel. Remote tower is also increasing the safety level for passengers in the civil area through its infrared and augmented reality capabilities. The Middle East airports are looking for such solutions. We have already implemented this in Germany and Austria,

Georges: The concept of remote tower is most advantageous for small airports where you have three movements per day and where a control tower is not cost effective. Another advantage is that it can be used as a back-up tower. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports are interested in this

Q: The airspace is getting congested. What are the solutions?

Georges: In order to solve the airspace congestion problem, there are ATM technologies and processes that allow a reduction in aircraft separation, allowing more airlines to fly. And on the ground there also technologies that allow a decrease in separation on the runway. We have implemented a system in Dubai airport which uses statistical analysis on the type of aircraft, the wind and weather conditions to give the control tower optimal scenario to reduce the distance.

Q: More than 3.6 billion people travelled last year and the figure is expected to double to 7.4 billion in ten years. Dubai airports Q: What are the challenges for expect to receive 100 million airport operators? passengers in two years and 124 Georges: The first challenge is that there million by 2023. How should are not enough airport operators to manage airports prepare for this surge in the increased demands of air travel. Asia is travellers? poaching all the experts all over the world. Aviation will be growing at the rate of five per cent for the next 20 years. Even the low-cost airlines are starting to offer longhaul flights. Airports will continue growing as assets. So experts are in great demand there. The other challenge is to keep up with the growth of movements, for which cooperation between the countries, like in Europe, such as EUROCONTROL, to manage the skies.

Georges: I think the bottleneck is the runways and not in the terminals. In the Western world, building the runways is a very lengthy and painful process. On the other hand in the Middle East, they do not have the same limitation or reservations. Inside the terminals, always in aviation industry, you use new technology, new processes to grow the economies and you reach a plateau. When you reach that plateau, you need new infrastructure and start using new technology, thus the growth goes on.

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2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

Interview

Rakan Khaled, Director of Global Operations, Airport Operations, Information Management Services, Rockwell Collins

Serving clients from the hub of the aviation world A

viation solutions provider Rockwell Collins has affirmed its commitment to the Middle East and Africa region as well as expansion in the GCC.

The technology provider continues its commitment to the Middle East, one of the fastest growing markets for aerospace and defence, by expanding its presence, growing its investment and building new relationships in the region. “We run our global operations from the US and the regional operations from Dubai considering

the fact that Dubai is the hub of aviation world. We have one of the most experienced teams from around the globe. We have been in Dubai since 2003. We are one of the pioneers in Dubai and we have been with Dubai during success and times of challenges and we have been expanding operations and increasing commitment day by day,” Rakan Khaled, Director of Global Operations,

Airport Operations, Information Management Services, Rockwell Collins, told Via Dubai during the Airport Show 2018. Present globally for more than 90 years and in the region for 20 years, Rockwell Collins offers a broad range of products and services to airports, commercial customers and military throughout the Middle East. Rockwell Collins’ regional headquarters are in Dubai, with offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Cairo. More than the airport technology, Rockwell Collins operates in defence, aerospace, Aviation, security, transportation, communication and flight entertainment system. We have an end to end portfolio in this field. Today, Rockwell Collins serves governments, airlines, business aviation, airports and critical infrastructure with technology and services, making the region one of the company’s fastest-growing markets.

Q: What are your expansion plans in the UAE?

In the UAE, we are looking to expand our business everywhere.

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2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

Dnata and DCA. In parallel in the other Emirates as RAK, we are involved in the day-to-day airport operations. We have introduced in RAK an excellent utility system, the mobile muse, in which a tablet with wireless peripherals can be used as a check-in counter anywhere in the airport and off station at the resorts and hotels as well.

Rakan Khaled One of the projects we are really proud of is Ras Al Khaimah airport, for which we won the contract in 2013. And we have nearly all the systems deployed at the airport project. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look at it as a project, instead we look at it as a partnership with the RAK authorities and the airport. The airport now is coming up fast. We have completed the project in the first year, 2013, since then we have been providing support and services to the airport. We have been providing maintenance services for the airport operations, all the checkin counters, the gates, everything connected to airport operations. We are frequently upgrading and maintaining it. We have a long term contract there and we are looking to extend it.

Q: What is the extent of operations in Dubai?

Our dealing with Dubai is mainly through Dnata. We provide the check-in system, passenger processing system all over the DXB terminals T1, T2 and T3 also we are expanding at DWC Al Maktoum International Airport proudly with

If there is extra traffic or a power outage then they can take the passengers to another area without affecting the operations.

Q: Would you be expanding operations to other airports, such as Sharjah, Fujairah, etc?

We are serving airlines in most airports in the world. One of the reasons we are expanding here because we know that other emirates such as Sharjah and Fujairah are looking for expansion and looking for new innovators. We are talking to all these airports to secure more business.

Q: How important is the Middle East market for you?

The Middle East is one of the important regions for us globally. We have operations in UAE, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar. Elsewhere, in Africa we have contracts with airports authorities as the main airports technology provider. We are participating in the new airport in Tanzania as DAR additional to Zanzibar which we have delivered successfully with ZAA. We are really looking into the African market with more focus and investing in every country.

We also now have a big presence in Rwanda, Kenya and Senegal. From Japan till Australia , we have business everywhere in Asia, -- in India and the Philippines. We provide the airport passenger processing systems for Hong Kong airport, where we have based one of the biggest teams. Since we run airports, our systems cannot be in isolation, we are proud to be the pioneers in airport system integrations, and a leading provider of such systems. We integrate with all airside and landside systems. Including and not limited to air traffic control, baggage systems, security, and more.

Q: What are the challenges you face as well as the aviation industry in the region?

The challenges, some countries are really advanced in technology and some are lagging behind. Some countries are able to adapt new technology. Though the market demands the latest technology, and our roadmap as an organisation is to always lead the market technology, however some customers would still tend to go with whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s considered proven technology. In such, we have to always maintain the balance between being innovators, and provide what satisfy our customer demands.. The challenge is and will always be to convince these customers that we are really working for their security and successful operations by using the latest technologies.

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Interview

Investments flexibility A

DP Ingenierie, the 360 airport building expert, intrinsically involved with Dubai’s aviation industry for more than four decades, has grand plans to further spread its footprint in the region, and beyond, from its Dubai branch.

“We have been in the aviation industry in the UAE since 1978, and have been growing with the country with total commitment and dedication. We are working for the success of the airports in Dubai, right from engineering of the buildings, navigation control, service, efficiency and sustainability of the buildings. We are dedicated to all the airports in the UAE. The message is that we are here to assist the airports in the UAE,” Mr Florent Merminod, ADPI’s Managing Director, Central Asia, Middle East and Eastern Africa, told Via Dubai in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Airport Show 2018. ADP Ingénierie is a whollyowned subsidiary of Groupe ADP, which designs new airports and modernises airports globally. The activities include design and overseeing of the construction of complex airport buildings (airports, terminals, passenger terminals, control towers, aircraft hangars, maintenance centres, etc.)

June 2018

Mr Florent Merminod Managing Director, Central Asia, Middle East and Eastern Africa, ADP Ingenierie

Excerpts:

Q: What are your expansion plans? Our footprint is expanding, from Dubai. We have decided to put business units and premises in Dubai with almost half of the population of ADPI worldwide covering not only the Gulf region but also South Asia and East Africa. The regional footprint has now expanded including South and Central Asia as well as East Africa. The capacities of our teams have grown so much with diversity of works that have been given by our customers in the region. Now we want to expand this beyond the boundaries to make use of the capacities established.

Q: How dynamic is the regional aviation market?

This region has been historically

Mr Olivier Guichard Strategy & business development deputy CEO of ADP Ingénierie

the largest and the most dynamic. There are lots of things happening in the UAE. We are well placed in Dubai to execute the projects. We are associated with Al Maktoum International Airport since the beginning. We are involved in Oman and Bahrain. We also see a lot happening in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.This region is going to stay very dynamic for the long run. Outside of the region, East Africa is also very dynamic, having huge amount of works in Ethiopia and Kenya. And we see there are more to come. We are also seeing lot of activities happening in India.

Q: What are the challenges faced by airports and decision makers for airport expansion? The first challenge is to be able to plan the expansion on time. In

2018 7-9 May 2018 DICEC, Dubai

many places in the world people are anticipating to grow faster. It’s only a few years before you make a decision and you can operate. There are always surprises on the way.. You don’t want to invest too early, because none will follow you. But once the decision is taken, it may be too late. So you have to run. The second challenge is that when you invest sometimes you have to invest for the next 30-40 years. You don’t necessarily know what you are going to need. Today, for example, some airports in North America are building massive parking spaces. But we also know that in 2020 there will be some places in the world, I think Dubai is going to be one of them, where taxis are not going to operate any more on ground, but in the air. So, there will not be need for so much parking space as used to be. Today you invest in parking spaces because you need them, but ten years from now you might have to do something else with that space without demolishing everything. Another challenge is the flexibility in investments. This is where we are coming in the picture with the experiences that we are having across the world, developing with our own innovation lab in Paris and the feedback we are having from all the customers from all over the world so as to build something which is not only solid and concrete but also capable of adjusting to the various changes.

How to increase the level of security is another challenge when the number of passengers and nonpassengers increases. Technology can help to meet these challenges.

Q: What are the limiting factors of growth, is it technology alone or change in demographics?

The main limiting factor is going to be the ability of the players in the industry to adopt. The demand is there, and is getting bigger and bigger. For example, in India the population is huge and only a small fraction of it is travelling so far. The only limiting factor there is the ability of all the players to adjust. The players also face the challenge of choosing the right technology. This is where we can help the clients to decide for which technology to be adopted to secure the future.

Q: What is your advice to the decision makers of airport operations?

Continue to listen to the customers. Continue to ask the opinion of customers, clients and various players and then get the best decision. This success of Dubai and the aviation industry is not by chance, it is because there have always been constant efforts to do better.

Take into consideration that ten years from now things will be different from what we envisage. Sometimes changes will happen faster, sometimes changes will not happen at all. So, there is always a need to stay agile. The agility will come from listening to customers. It is absolutely critical and necessary to permanently listen for the feedbacks like it has been happening, so as to able to adjust. And it is a constant learning process.

Q: What is the latest offering you have in technology?

We don’t offer technology. We offer our customers the level of definition for new kind of performance that is becoming available because of new technology. We are exposed across the world to a lot of very different situation, lot of changing situations which are calling for new technologies. We are looking at the virtual reality as the way to help addressing the new challenges and constantly evolving situations that are faced at airports . We are using the BIM (Building Information Modelling) technologies and apply them to different fields not only the building itself but also the infrastructure systems.

An example is Al Maktoum International Airport as a successful business model. Why Dubai is put into the world map is because of the design and the fact that building the airport was planned as early as in 2000. Everybody has copied that model.

June 2018

UAE in Focus

Al Maktoum International offers incentives to airlines

Fujairah airport to spent AED661 million for expansion

gyptian contractor, Orascom Construction, and its UAE joint venture partner, Al Sahraa Group, have won an AED661 million contract for the expansion of Fujairah International airport.

o handle the traffic effectively due to the 45-day closure of a runway at Dubai International next summer, Dubai Airports is offering incentives to global carriers to shift their capacity to Dubai’s second airport, Al Maktoum International. The southern runway at the world’s top airport for international passengers will be closed from April 16 to May 30 for refurbishment. Any carrier relocating flights during the runway closure period will not be charged landing and parking fees, and will also have reductions made to other operational costs, remarked Khalil Lamrabet, Director of Aviation Business Management at Dubai Airports. There will also be free transport services for passengers transiting between the two airports during the closure period. More incentives are being planned going forward. The greater share of the total reduction will have to be made by base carriers during the closure. Emirates and flydubai will account for 55 per cent share of the overall required volume reduction.

June 2018

They will undertake the main infrastructure work for the airport expansion. The scope of work includes a new air traffic control tower, extension of the existing runway and a new emergency runway.

Sharjah Airport to modernise voice communication

harjah International Airport (SIA) has awarded Frequentis and its UAE partner, Bayanat Engineering UAE, a contract to modernise its voice communication infrastructure and replace the existing Schmid Telecom system. The tower at SIA will be equipped with the Frequentis VCS3020X which will ensure SIA benefits from the best performing air traffic control voice communication solution, together with rapid deployment and the lowest total cost of ownership. The international airport is a major air transport hub in the UAE, serving close to 12 million passengers per year. Frequentis says its system provides flexible integration of the existing analogue and digital radio infrastructure.

Air Arabia continues its growth drive

he Middle East’s first low-cost carrier, Air Arabia, has described 2017 as a challenging year.

Remarked its CEO, Adil Ali: “2017 was not a good year. Syria used to be one of the biggest markets we offered. Yemen was another example. Despite all these difficulties, we see growth in the market. We see continuous growth.” Air Arabia has set itself apart from competitors by extending its reach in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, setting up hubs in Alexandria and Casablanca, in addition to home bases in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. A liberal aviation climate in Morocco had been a boon. Part of the airline’s ground-breaking appeal had been that it had transformed the way air travel is perceived in MENA, and had become the region’s first airline to go public on the Dubai Financial Market, in 2007.

UAE in Focus

ADGM licensing three aircraft leasing companies

bu Dhabi Global Market, the UAE capital’s financial free zone on Al Maryah Island, has under its fold three aircraft leasing firms, as the region’s second biggest economy expands its aviation and aerospace industries. The three leasing

Etihad unveiled ‘Year of Zayed’ initiatives

tihad Aviation Group has unveiled its extensive Year of Zayed initiatives which are set to be launched throughout 2018. The initiatives are based on the four Year of Zayed themes, which are wisdom, respect, sustainability, and human development. The company’s initiatives are: Humanitarian freighter, Zayed A380 and Abu Dhabi Experience, Abu Dhabi Birdathon and Zayed Campus and Young Aviators.

companies are Irish aviation services firms Airborne Capital and Stellwagen Group, and UAEbased aircraft lessor International Air Finance Corporation (IAFC), which manages the US$5 billion Aircraft Leasing Islamic Fund (ALIF) in the Middle East.

Upgrades lined up at Al Bateen Executive Airport

lans to upgrade the Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi within the next couple of years, including its runway and aprons, has been announced/ This would be the first upgrade of the runway by the company since Abu Dhabi Airports took over in 2008. It did not give the timeframe for the runway upgrade, but it will definitely be before 2020. The closure of the runway will be decided once the study is complete

and a few roads in the vicinity of airport will also be upgraded. “We are optimistic about the growth of the airport in the coming years. We’ve seen a lot of movements in terms of passengers and we’ve seen a shift in type of passengers from only being wealthy people travelling to ordinary travellers,” said Nasser Juma, General Manager of Operations Support at Abu Dhabi Airports.

Airbus conducts ‘heat tests’ for A321LR in Sharjah

irbus has completed a set of hot weather tests for its first A321LR at Sharjah International Airport. The UAE is witnessing its summer season entering into its intensity phase and the Airbus arrived in earnest to start the heat testing for the latest long-range aircraft.

June 2018

Middle East News

Bahrain to open new airport in 2019

onstruction work on the US$1.1 billion passenger terminal at Bahrain International airport is progressing according to schedule, with the project’s first phase expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019. The new airport’s soft opening is expected by September next year. The first phase of the construction works entails 95 per cent of the entire project. It includes the operational readiness and airport transfer process, which typically takes six to seven months.

Gulf Air hopes for profitability in five years

A team of UAE-based Arabtec and Turkey’s TAV Airports won the Bahrain airport expansion contract in January 2016. Construction work began in April of that year. An estimated 70 per cent of the scheme is being funded by the GCC Fund, primarily by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The rest is being provided by the Bahraini government. The under-construction terminal is designed to handle 14 million passengers annually and it will enable Bahrain to offer better services for the next 15 to 20 years.

Nile Air preparing for an IPO

rivately owned Egyptian carrier Nile Air is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) this year. Nile Air is Egypt’s second-largest independent airline. The fullservice carrier operates five Airbus A320ceos and two A321ceos from Cairo and Alexandria to destinations in Africa, Europe, the Gulf and Middle East. Speaking during a panel session at Aviation Africa here, Nile Air CEO Ahmed Aly said the airline is working towards an IPO.

Turkish firm to build new Khartoum airport

S G

ulf Air, the Arabian Gulf’s flag carrier of Bahrain, will add eight routes this year to mainly regional destinations, part of a long-term plan to serve 60 destinations by 2023. It is targeting profitability within five to eight years after years of struggling to compete with neighbouring rivals. It has a new growth strategy to turn around the airline with fleet expansion and broader network outside its core markets. The state-owned airline will add eight routes this year to mainly regional destinations, part of a longterm plan to serve 60 destinations by 2023, as it starts taking delivery of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A320neos.

June 2018

udan has signed a deal with a Turkish company to build the new Khartoum international airport at an estimated cost of US$1.15 billion. According to Quds Press, Summa pledged to finish the first phase of the project worth US$800 million within 30 months. Sudan’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Othman al-Rekabi, said the agreement represents a new launch in the field of private sector infrastructure investments in the country and this is in keeping with the country’s policy aimed at affordable investment opportunities for local and foreign investors.” Khartoum International Airport is located four kilometer southeast of

the city in Al Amarat. The current facility will be replaced with a new airport 40 kilometers south of the centre of Khartoum. This is planned to have two 4000 metre runways, a passenger terminal of 86,000 square metres and a 300-room international hotel. In 2014, Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and the Export-Import Bank of China signed a US$700 million development loan deal to finance the development of the new Khartoum International Airport.

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Middle East News

MEA to buy 15 airplanes; Lebanon airport to expand

Jordan airport is ME’s first carbon neutral aviation hub

ueen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has become the first airport in the Middle East to achieve level 3+ (Neutrality) of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program - a carbon management program developed by Airport Council International (ACI).

he Middle East Airlines (MEA) which flies to 31 international destinations in Europe, Middle East and West Africa, will purchase 15 new airplanes between 2019 and 2021. Of these, 11 will be Airbus A321, and the other four will be the “widebody” variants. It currently has a fleet of 17 modern aircraft. Among the most modern fleets in the world complete with sophisticated cabin and on board facilities, the MEA fleet comprises of aircraft of almost every size.

Since its induction as operator of QAIA in 2008, Airport International Group (AIG) has strived to uphold safety and security within and around the airport, and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to protecting the airport’s environment, by implementing a comprehensive and holistic Environment Management Plan (EMP).

QAIA’s EMP is developed to minimise and control sources of environmental pollution such as carbon emissions, in addition to the monitoring of several environmental elements, through an integrated waste management program, in addition to air quality, water and biodiversity management, as well as noise control. AIG has invested in several projects, the outcome of which was it being able to save US$1.5 million by reducing power consumption in the years between 2014 and 2017, in addition to a reduction of 7.8 per cent in CO2 emissions per passenger, from 3.69 kg in the period from 2014 – 2016, to 3.40 kg in 2017.

Established in 1945, MEA launched its services from Beirut to a few neighbouring cities. It was only in 1963 that it extended its services to European, African and Middle Eastern destinations. The national flag-carrier of Lebanon will also expand its headquarters campus which will include massive hangars for maintenance purposes and a green office building by 2021. Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport’s current capacity is around six million passengers a year, but last year more than 8.3 million passengers made their way through it.

June 2018

Kuwait airport’s T4 to be managed by IIAC

uwait has selected a Korean company, Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), for the operation and management of Terminal 4 at the Kuwait International Airport. Besides providing training to Kuwaiti youth on airport management, the Korean group will also transfer

relevant knowledge and expertise. T4 is being specified for national carrier Kuwait Airways and is slated to begin operations this year. Terminal 4 aims to reduce the traffic on the existing terminal. It has been designed to service 4.5 million passengers per year.

June 2018

International News

China building hanger for its surging civil fleet

Airlines industry sees accelerated growth of 7.8% per year till 2021

he global airlines industry is set to rise from US$569.5 billion in 2016 to US$828.3 billion by 2021, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8 per cent, and surpassing the peak growth rate of 7.4 per cent seen in the period between 2012 and 2016. A research by MarketLine stated that the emerging dynamic of the AsiaPacific region, which accounts for 33.9 per cent of the global industry, combined with signs of reduced rivalry in the European airline industry, are driving accelerated growth in global terms.

IATA expands its head office operations

he International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing 280 airlines in 120 countries which carry 83 per cent of the world’s air traffic, is increasing operations at its Montréal headquarters with the expansion of its Financial and Distribution Services (FDS) division.

June 2018

team of China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (CAPDI) of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the State-owned aviation giant, is constructing a large column-free hangar for Beijing’s new airport that will be able to hold about 11 civil aircraft. The hangers will allow aircraft to undergo ‘health’ checks, maintenance, repairs and overhauls. The maintenance hangar for China Southern Airlines will set an Asian record, measuring 405 meters across, 100 meters deep, and with a clearance height of 30 meters.

It will be about 46 meters wider than the current Asian record holder: the A380 hangar at Beijing International Airport, also made by CAPDI. It will be able to hold two A380 jumbos, three B777 wide-body aircraft and six narrow-bodies, such as the B737 or A320. About 1,200 tonnes of maintenance facilities will be suspended from the roof. CAPDI has designed more than 95 percent of the civil aircraft maintenance hangars in China, and all the paint hangars. China’s civil aviation industry is mushrooming in fleet size as well as passenger and cargo loads.

Changi Airport appoints consultants for T5 development

ingapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG) has appointed the Master Building Consultants to provide architectural design and engineering consultancy services for the development of Terminal 5. The selected consultants including KPF (Singapore), Arup Singapore, Mott MacDonald Singapore, Surbana Jurong Consultants and DP Architects. The firms will be responsible for providing complete consultancy services for the design of the main terminal building, satellite terminal building, ground transportation centre and primary landside roadway. The development of T5 as a single integrated terminal will ensure

that Changi Airport remains competitive as a leading air hub. In partnership with Heatherwick Studio and Architects 61, KPF (Singapore) has been appointed for the provision of architectural design services. Besides appointing Master Building Consultants, CAG has awarded Master Civil Consultants contracts for the T5-related landside and airfield works.

International News

Kenya Airways mulls 20 new routes in five years

Airlines evaluating blockchain solutions

Airlines can use the technology to streamline ticketing services, using loyalty point management and enhanced security of passenger information. Airlines can also use the

enya Airways is planning to add up to 20 new destinations in Africa, Europe and Asia in the next five years. The route-network expansion will help sub-Saharan Africa’s thirdbiggest carrier, in the midst of a turnaround program after a record loss in 2016, return to profit. The airline reported a US$60.3 million loss for the nine months through December 2017. KQ, as the company is known, will seek board approval for the newroute plan and is also preparing to take back five aircraft it sub-leased to other carriers, to build capacity and cater for additional passengers. In 2018, it will announce maybe two, three new routes to be operated in 2019.

Digital airport maps for major hubs

y adopting various aspects of blockchain technology, airlines can aim to create more efficient service models and therefore broaden the travel industry.

technology to manage the massive amount of data they go through on a daily basis, with flights, baggage, passengers, and weather. Blockchain technology allows cryptocurrency like Bitcoin to operate. The technology is a decentralized method of maintaining records, operated on a peer-to-peer network.

Aviation industry making progress towards GADSS concept

he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has reported impressive progress on the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) designed for improvement in 27 areas across aircraft systems, air traffic services (ATS) and search and rescue (SAR) system operations.

These improvement criteria are designed to inform the global aviation industry and all of its various segments about ICAO’s latest available information about progress toward establishing GADSS, a concept of operations adopted by

ICAO through collaboration with some of the world’s top avionics engineers, civil aviation regulators, air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and other aviation stakeholders. The main objective of GADSS is to achieve alignment of these stakeholders to prevent any future disappearance of aircraft from available surveillance — such as what occurred with the Malaysia Airlines MH370 incident in which a Boeing 777-200ER disappeared in March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to China’s Beijing Capital International Airport.

lobal airline alliance, SkyTeam, has launched a series of digital maps to help customers breeze through its global hubs, as it continues investing in technology to enhance the airport experience. From check-in and departures right through to baggage collection, the interactive maps provide customers with a clear and detailed view of their surroundings via their phones.

June 2018

Opinion

Staying Competitive O

ur excellent connections to the world provide huge advantages for our businesses, create good jobs for Singaporeans and raise our quality of life. They make Singapore a global city and a vibrant economic hub. Many airports and seaports in the region are working hard to replace us. We are working even harder to make sure we are not easily replaceable. That is why we are expanding Changi Airport, even though we have just opened Terminal 4. This is not just about building another terminal building in Changi. We are actually building a second airport, complete with a third runway, an extensive underground network of tunnels, and a mega terminal to serve up to 50 million passengers per year in the first phase of development. By adjoining the current airport, it will almost double our overall airport capacity. More importantly, we can synergise both airports to make the entire Changi an unbeatable air hub. While the external connectivity dimensions of Changi Airport and the seaport are obvious, the role played by land transport is also crucial. No point being able to fly or sail into Singapore, and then to be stuck on the road in traffic jams. This is a common phenomenon in many other cities around the world. Singapore must never be like that. Besides the Changi airport, the investments we are making to improve the transport system are huge. MOT’s budget is now

June 2018

the second biggest amongst the ministries. Over the next five years, we will provide subsidies of about $5 billion for public bus services and $4 billion to renew our rail operating assets. That’s not all. Another $20 billion will be invested in infrastructure to further expand the public transport network. The future transport scene is truly exciting. Just the Autonomous Vehicle technology alone plus sharing economy and improvements in mobile telephony, we already combine to make on-demand pointto-point transport service a reality. Dubai right now is doing a trial of some of these autonomous pods, which don’t look like cars at all. It can be configured like Hollywood’s Transformers. These will have huge impact on city planning. It is in our hands to shape the future to make sure that it is not a nightmare, it will be a dream, provided that our policies remains pro-innovation, pro-market and also very important, right-pricing of limited resources. The quality of life of our children will definitely be better than ours.

Excerpts from a speech at a committee of the Singapore’s Ministry of Transport

Khaw Boon Wan Minister for Transport Republic of Singapore

Opinion

First-ever barometer on airport service quality A irports are complex operations with many business partners playing a role. As competition in the airport industry grows, continuous service improvement is key for business performance and airports are making the customer experience a high priority. Objective measurement and benchmarking are critical in driving performance in any business especially in a competitive and dynamic industry like the airports.

In April, the Airports Council International (ACI) World launched the first-ever Airport Service Quality (ASQ) barometer which provides a global snapshot of airport customer experience satisfaction levels. The barometer was put together from the overall satisfaction scores from a global and regional level, derived from the longstanding ASQ Departures programme – the only worldwide programme to survey passengers at the airport on their day of travel. It measures their views of 34 key performance indicators, including airport access, checkin, security screening, restrooms, stores, restaurants, additionally capturing passenger comments of their best and worst experience at the airport. Each airport uses the same methodology, creating an industry database that allows airports to benchmark with other airports around the

world. In 2017, more than half of the world’s 7.1 billion travelers passed through an ASQ airport and this barometer was developed in response to airport demand for greater insight into customer need. This barometer provides current data - based on objective measurements derived from the ASQ Departures survey, and the most relevant key performance indicators and categories for customers, including airport access, security, passport control and airport facilities. Overall in 2017, airport customer experience has improved globally from 4.15 to 4.19 (out of a 5-point scale). Security screening has the strongest impact on the overall satisfaction of passengers, and satisfaction in this area has improved overall. The most satisfied passengers are found in larger airports (>40 Million). Asia-Pacific’s airports remain at the top of the charts in terms of customer experience satisfaction

Angela Gittens Director General Airports Council International (ACI) World

more. The findings will help them tailor their initiatives to better meet the needs of passengers. The ACI also launched a new programme to help airports better understand the thoughts, actions and motivations of all staff in the airport.

In 2017, ACI also launched the ASQ Arrivals survey which complements the findings from the ASQ’s Departures Survey. Like the ASQ main Departures Survey, the ASQ Arrivals Survey gives airports the tools they need to improve their measurement of passenger service initiatives and the flexibility to adapt the programme through optional services like additional sample plans, increased sample sizes and

June June 2018 2018

35 35

ATM

New Zealand to have its first digital tower

nvercargill Airport will be the first airport in New Zealand to have its air traffic control tower replaced with a digital system operated from a remote location.

Airways New Zealand says it was looking to the technology as a national alternative to bricks and mortar towers that would provide greater aviation safety, resiliency and the option to provide extended levels of services to New Zealand’s regions. Its intention is to implement a digital tower at Auckland International Airport as a back-up to its existing tower by 2020, and a full replacement in the future.

Digital tower technology allows air traffic controllers to direct traffic from a remote location watching live footage of the airfield from high-definition video cameras.

IATA developing turbulence database

T US developing drone airspace corridor

he Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance has selected Raytheon as a key partner in the development of America’s first and most advanced unmanned aircraft system-testing airspace corridor in New York State. Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business will help plan, design, build and support the state’s next-generation air traffic management system to safely test and manage drones. The new corridor will extend 50 miles (80 km) west from Griffiss International Airport, which is one of only seven Federal Aviation Administrationapproved unmanned aircraft systems test sites in America.

June 2018

he International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 280 airlines in 120 countries carrying 83 per cent of the world’s air traffic, is developing a turbulence information-sharing platform, which it aims to launch in 2019. Working in collaboration with airlines and industry stakeholders, IATA will develop a global database of real-time, aircraft-sensed turbulence reports. This data will enable pilots, flight dispatchers and meteorologists to “ultimately limit injuries and reduce fuel burn.” Turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to passengers and crew globally. The global body said it is committed to developing the platform after 96 per cent of respondents to an IATA study— including airlines, air navigation service providers, and militaries— stated they required real-time, objective data about the location and severity of turbulence.

For meteorologists, there’s a multitude of forecast scenarios that can cause travel headaches and sometimes cancellations. If the fog reduces visibility below 3 miles or the clouds are lower than 1,000 feet, they advises that flights rely on instruments to take off and land. Outside of fog and reduced visibilities, other inclement weather issues for aircraft come from wind and ice. Low level wind shear can develop ahead of cold fronts and within storm systems. Another common irritation passengers can experience is turbulence. Lebo adds that forecasting turbulence can arise from many different situations.

ATM

Impressive growth for ATM and UTM markets

he global Air Traffic Management (ATM) market is expected to register a CAGR close to 10 per cent during the forecast period, 2018 to 2023. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts the global air passenger number will be doubled to 7.8 billion in 2036. The need for efficient, globally harmonized, and interoperable air traffic management arises due to increasing air traffic across the globe. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are around 5000 aircrafts in the sky at any given time. There is a vast demand for improvised ATM Systems, which are needed to manage growing number of planes in the air. However, these new technologies are out of reach from cost-effectiveness, as huge capital is required to maintain and monitor them, since these systems are necessary for the safety of the passengers. It is said that the global UAS Traffic Management (UTM) System Market is anticipated to reach US$3.62 billion by 2026. The UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system is an upcoming phenomenon that is envisioned for managing drones (mainly small drones) traffic in the lower level of airspace.

Altitude Angel ties up with NATS for drone traffic

rone flight management app Altitude Angel is quietly cornering the challenging market in connecting drone traffic management to traditional air traffic control systems. The startup aims to bridge the gap between unmanned traffic management (UTM, the art of stopping drones from colliding with each other or real aeroplanes) and proper air traffic control systems ATM. The company’s partnership with UK ATC provider NATS is all about “creating the necessary technical software if you like, and the interfaces, rather, that enable the UTM interfaces to connect into existing ATM infrastructure”.

London terminal replaces paper based flight progress strips

he London Terminal Control (LTC) is progressively implementing a project that replaces paper based flight progress strips with an electronic system. The project, termed EXCDS, will provide a foundation for LTC to meet future traffic growth. LTC provides approach and departure services to the five London airports and airspace over the southern portion of England. It is one of the most complex and

congested pieces of airspace in the world, with the five airports located approximately within 20 miles of each other. EXCDS means that all air traffic controllers receive and record information about an aircraft on electronic flight progress strips in almost exactly the same manner. Introducing a level of standardisation helps with coordination between sectors.

The UAS traffic management system or UTM system is envisaged to be a system of several subsystems which will work together to provide an endto-end service.

June 2018

Airlines

LATAM plans a new low-cost airline

ATAM Airlines, the largest air transport group in Latin America, is planning to launch a new low-cost airline, in the midst of the boom in flights in that segment. According to El Mercurio daily, LATAM has made in March a letter of intent to create an aerocommercial company before the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC), without providing details. If all goes well, LATAM would enter to compete with the local Sky Airline and Jetsmart, of the American fund Indigo Partners.

Singapore Airlines to launch world’s longest non-stop flight

new direct route between the US and Asia will soon be the world’s longest non-stop flight. Singapore Airlines will launch a 19-hour flight from Singapore to New York by the end of the year, trumping the current record of 18 hours from Auckland to Doha on Qatar Airways. The airline’s flights from Singapore to New York currently make a stop in Frankfurt or London. Singapore Airlines’ new A350s will fly the ultra-long range flights between Singapore and New York. Seven new Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) planes have been ordered. They are able to go the full 15,300 kilometre distance, and will guzzle an additional 24,000 litres of fuel because of the extra fuel weight they have to carry.

US airlines made $4.6 billion on baggage fees

total of 13 US-based airlines made $4.6 billion last year in baggage fees alone, with American Airlines and Delta raking in the most, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). That represents nearly 184,000,000 pieces of checked luggage (which costs an average of $25 a bag, says flight tracker Hopper) and brought airlines an additional $400 million in profit over 2016. Many airlines now force their customers to pay extra if they are travelling with more than just hand luggage. Taking in the most was American Airlines, which charged customers a total of $1.17 billion in baggage fees last year.

June 2018

Air Italy plans 10 million passengers yearly by 2022

eridiana, Italy’s long established privately owned airline, is working on an exciting new phase of growth and development with its new identity as Air Italy. Air Italy aims to have approximately 50 aircraft by 2022 and is already committed to receiving 20 of the brand new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft type over the next three years. Air Italy will also receive five Airbus A330-200 aircraft this year, prior to these being further replaced by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, commencing May 2019. In September 2018 Air Italy will be launching four weekly flights from Milan to Bangkok. Three additional long-haul destinations will be opened by the end of the year. Air Italy aims to fly more than 50 year-round routes by 2022. Air Italy has an ambition to reach a goal of transporting 10 million passengers per year by 2022 traveling to, from and via Italy. Meridiana has carried more than 100 million passengers to date as full-service carrier, operating both short-haul and long-haul flights. In February 2018, a new corporate identity was presented and it was rebranded as Air Italy. Air Italy’s fleet, currently comprising eight Boeing 737 NG and three Boeing 767-300, will be progressively renewed with eight new aircraft 3 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 5 Airbus A330-200 joining during 2018 and with the full retirement of the B767-300 by the end of 2018.

Airlines

JAL to launch budget airline ahead of Tokyo Olympics

apan Airlines (JAL) is set to launch a budget airline with the aim of offering medium- and long-haul international flights by 2020, when Tokyo is set to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

JAL will also consider providing the first low-cost flights between Japan and Europe, as well as Japan and the US. The envisioned users are both Japanese outbound travellers and foreign visitors to Japan. By opening its own routes, the carrier will expand competition in the low-cost carrier business.

Russia extends overflight approvals for US airlines

ussia has extended overflight approvals for the US airlines through October. An official said the Ministry of Transport informed the American officials that the overflight approvals will be for operations on three routes through October 28. The new overflights agreement had been negotiated directly between the US carriers and the Russian government, and the US State Department served only as a facilitator to the talks.

Cebu Pacific secures IATA safety accreditation

European and North American airlines make hundreds of trips weekly over eastern Russia, the quickest and cheapest route to East Asia. Russia has sought to use the flights as a source of leverage over the West, announcing a review of foreign carriers’ use of the airspace in 2014 as part of a tit-for-tat dispute over Ukraine.

he largest Philippine carrier, Cebu Pacific, has achieved full compliance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), joining a roster of 429 airlines worldwide that have strictly complied with the most stringent of international standards governing aviation safety.

The US and Russia haven’t had a permanent framework governing overflight permissions since 2001, instead relying on a patchwork set of non-binding agreements.

IOSA is considered the accreditation with the highest standards for safety in the airline industry.

Temasek interested in buying Hong Kong airlines

ingapore state investor Temasek Holdings has expressed interest in buying into Chinese conglomerate HNA’s Hong Kong-based carriers, Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express Airways. However, an investment in the unlisted Hong Kong carriers by Temasek remains subject to a due diligence process that has yet to begin. The Singaporean investor would likely emerge as only a minority holder in the Hong Kong airlines, which control valuable slots at Hong Kong’s capacity-constrained airport, if a deal is completed.

June 2018

Cargo & Logistics

Airbus plans sleeper berths in cargo plane holds

irbus has entered into a partnership with Zodiac Aeropsace, a French aviationequipment company, to develop “lower-deck modules with passenger sleeping berths.” Starting in 2020, the beds will be available on its widebody A330 planes, and could possibly appear on A350s as well.

Boeing considers turning used 777s into cargo planes

oeing is considering whether to convert used 777 passenger jets into freighters, seeking to capitalize as booming e-commerce sales spur new demand for air freight worldwide.

recession-era slump. The product would also fuel sales at a new global services division as Boeing works to more than triple the unit’s US$15 billion in annual revenue over the next 10 years.

While Boeing has studied retrofitting the used wide-bodies for more than a decade, the effort has taken on new life in recent months as air cargo finally emerged from its

Offering revamped versions of the 777-200ERs would expand Boeing’s catalogue of freighters but risk cannibalizing sales of factory-fresh jets at more than double the price.

Emirates SkyCargo carries 400k tonnes of perishables

mirates SkyCargo has recorded one year of transporting perishables with Emirates Fresh - the air cargo carrier’s specialised portfolio of solutions for air-freighting different kinds of perishable cargo across its network of over 155 destinations. In the 12 months since the launch of Emirates Fresh in April 2017, Emirates SkyCargo has transported close to 400,000 tonnes of perishables under the 3 Emirates Fresh service categories.

Lufthansa Cargo starts fleet replacement programme

ufthansa Cargo is tackling the air freight capacity shortage and updating its freighter fleet, with an order for two 777Fs. Set to deliver in the first quarter of 2019, the order could mark the carrier’s ambitions to begin to replace its ageing MD-11F fleet, with plans to scrap two of the aircraft. The carrier has 12 MD-11Fs. The carrier already operates five 777Fs. The order comes after Lufthansa Cargo announced that 2017 had been one of its most successful financial years ever, with operating profits up from a €50 million loss to €242 million.

June 2018

DHL expands airfreight operations

HL Global Forwarding is expanding its roundthe-world freighter operation to meet demand growth on Asian and transpacific trades. The forwarding giant said that it would deploy a second dedicated Boeing 747-400F — ACMIleased through Atlas Air — to connect the US, Europe and Asia, following on from the launch of a first flight last year. The 100 tonne capacity flight will operate Shanghai Pudong to Cincinnati, from where it returns to Incheon, South Korea. Afterwards it will connect Korea to Wuxi, China continuing to Frankfurt-Hahn in Germany, and then back to Shanghai-Pudong Airport.

Technology

Carbon fiber recycled from commercial aircraft

niversal Asset Management (UAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of CALC’s associate company, Aircraft Recycling International Limited (ARI), has completely recycled carbon fiber from commercial aircraft, which is an undisputed world’s first. This monumental milestone in sustainability firmly entrenches UAM as the global leader in complete aircraft recycling. The resulting second-generation carbon fiber material is fit as raw resource for industrial use. As such, it becomes a feasible supply for advanced additive manufacturing supply chains, utilized by automotive and other manufacturing industries in need of cost-competitive carbon fiber. Of all the structural elements comprising an aircraft, carbon fiber is the most arduous to recycle. Efforts during the past 15 years have not yielded a viable solution that wholly completes the circular economy of carbon fiber back into manufacturing. UAM’s proprietary engineering in the use of CFRP from retired aircraft is a harbinger of future products under development by UAM’s Innovation Technology Team. CFRP use is on the rise, as today’s modern aircraft are now made of approximately 50 per cent composite material, compared to aircraft from the 1970’s which were manufactured with less than one per cent of carbon-based materials.

Aviation industry eyes electricpowered aircraft

handful of firms and regulators hope that the electric revolution in cars will also take to the skies, helping the industry cope with an expected boom in travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Norway, the largest oil and gas producer in western Europe, is paradoxically a pioneer in the field of electric transport. The Nordic nation aims for all new vehicle registrations to be zero emission by 2025 and launched a first electric ferry in early 2015.

After land and water, the northern kingdom is now turning to the sky with the goal of electrifying all short haul flights in just over 20 years. By 2040 Norway will be operating totally electric, said Mr Dag Falk-Petersen, Head of the country’s public airport operator, Avinor. Air transportation’s impact on global warming is estimated at around five per cent through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other substances, including nitrogen oxide and water vapour.

Etihad and BigRep to develop 3D-printed aerospace parts

IATA projects 7.8 billion passengers in 20 years

tihad Airways Engineering and BigRep have collaborated to explore new approaches to develop 3D-printed components for the aerospace industry.

ustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are the next frontier for today’s air transport, remarked Michael Gill, Director of Aviation Environment at IATA, the global body of 280 airlines which accounts for 85 per cent of the global air traffic. He says air transport is going through an astonishing period of growth. Ten years ago, there were 2.5 billion passengers’ journeys a year. In 2017, there were more than four billion. In 20 years’ time, IATA anticipates the number will have almost doubled, to 7.8 billion. Such growth brings a huge environmental challenge – one that the industry is aware of and planning for. A decade ago, the aviation industry set out clear goals for carbon emissions, including carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050, compared to 2005 levels.

The partnership will primarily focus on the development of cabin interior parts for Etihad’s new aircraft and for the retrofit market.

June 2018

Tourism

China expands visafree access to Hainan

Morocco to tax Airbnb to protect tourism industry

hina has expanded its visafree access to Hainan Island for tourists from 59 countries who planned to visit the country’s southern-most province, in a move likely to boost the island’s tourism industry.

For the first time, individual tourists were allowed to fly into the tropical island and stay for up to 30 days without the hassle of having to apply for a visa. After arriving on the island, tourists will only be required to check into a hotel, or report to a local public security bureau within 24 hours.

Moroccan officials have placed Airbnb and Booking.com in their crosshairs, looking to level the playing field for traditional hotels as a “new reality” forces Africa’s biggest tourism destination to re-evaluate efforts to drum up business.

orocco is planning to implement measures that will level the playing field for traditional hotels and protect them with the introduction of taxes on Airbnb starting from next year.

Vacation rentals offered on online portal Airbnb will be subject to tax beginning next year, bridging a legal void that has hurt the more than 3,800 hotels and hundreds of travel agencies operating in the country. Tax officials will work with undercover

hotel inspectors and interior ministry informants to ensure enforcement. Authorities will also help local online travel platforms offer attractive packages aimed at giving them greater footing against online global sites such as Booking.com. With the help of online portals, 60 per cent of the 10-millionplus holiday-makers visiting Morocco yearly plan their holiday by themselves – sidestepping the conventional tourism market. About 20,000 people list properties on Airbnb in Morocco, second on the continent only to South Africa. With tourism receipts topping US$7 billion last year, the industry is Morocco’s top hard-currency earner and accounts for 10 per cent of the economy.

Iceland - where travellers outnumber locals five to one

celand, a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic, is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Having a population of 348,580 and an area of 40,000 square miles, it is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Massive glaciers are protected in national parks. Iceland has a surfeit of natural wonders, from mighty glaciers and geysers to no fewer than 10,000 waterfalls, from the double-tiered Gullfoss to Seljalandsfoss, where a walking trail takes you behind

June 2018

the cascading water. Most of the population lives in the capital, Reykjavik, which runs on geothermal power and is home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland’s Viking history.

This tiny country is in the middle of a tourism boom. The two million tourists that visited Iceland last year outnumbered the locals by more than five to one. Icelanders have a distinctively quirky world view.

Tourism

Dubai launches tourism blockchain marketplace The initiative is its participation in Dubai 10X, and will further the department’s mission to establish Dubai as the leading destination for global travel, business and events by 2020.

ubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has launched Tourism 2.0, a blockchain-enabled marketplace that connects potential buyers directly to hotels and tour operators.

RAK sets sights on tourism

he UAE’s northernmost emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, which opened earlier this year the world’s longest zipline, has recorded a steadily growing economy of five to seven per cent over the past five years. His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, said that the emirate has set its sights on increasing tourism’s GDP contribution to 10 per cent by 2025. Already, the sector has been growing at a rate of about 19 per cent year-on-year, he said. Tourism is only a small part of its overall economy, at five of GDP. Ras Al Khaimah will have one million visitors by the end of this year and it has set a target of 2.9 million per year by 2025.

As a business to business marketplace, it will allow hotels and tour operators to connect directly. By accessing hotel occupancy and room rates, operators can communicate offers and availability more effectively to their customers. With the rise of social media channels promoting destination travel globally, the tourism industry has seen a rise in the demand for personalised travel packages which Tourism 2.0 will further enable.

Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 has set a goal of welcoming 20 million visitors per year by the year 2020. In 2017, Dubai welcomed 15.79 million visitors, an increase of 6.2 percent over the previous year. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and Dubai Future Foundation’s Board of Trustees, launched the plan among a bundle of innovative proposals for Dubai 10X at the sixth World Government Summit in February. The Dubai 10X initiative seeks to place Dubai government entities 10 years ahead of all global cities, across various sectors.

UAE among top three destinations for Saudis

he countries that have seen the greatest growth in flight bookings from travellers in Saudi Arabia in the last 12 months are Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Turkey, according to analysis conducted by Travelport, the leading Travel Commerce Platform. From April 2017 to March 2018, bookings made in the Kingdom through all global distribution systems (GDS) to the Egypt increased by nearly 190,000, up 17 per cent on the previous 12 months. Bookings to the UAE rose by over 70,000, up 13 per cent, and to Turkey by just over 65,000, up 31 per cent. Global distribution systems (GDS) are vast hi-tech reservation networks that allow travel agents, travel

management companies and large corporations, among others, to search and book airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel related items. Globally in 2017, Travelport alone processed 1 trillion transactions through its three GDS: Galileo, Worldspan and Apollo.

June 2018